Sleep-Related Infant Deaths in Victoria: A Retrospective Case Series Study

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Sleep-Related Infant Deaths in Victoria: A Retrospective Case Series Study

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Title: Sleep-Related Infant Deaths in Victoria: A Retrospective Case Series Study
Author/Creator: Bugeja, Lyndal | Dwyer, Jeremy | McIntyre, Sara-Jane | Young, J | Stephan, Karen Lesley | McClure, Roderick John
Description: Background There is general agreement that in some circumstances, sharing a sleep surface of any kind with an infant increases the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy. There is a paucity of research conducted in Australia examining this issue. This study examines the frequency and distribution of sleep-related infant deaths in a defined population, and reports the proportion that occurred in the context of bed-sharing. Methods A retrospective population-based case series study was conducted of infants (B365 days) who died in a sleeping context during the period 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2010 in the state of Victoria, Australia. Information about the infant, caregiver, sleeping environment and bed-sharing was collected from a review of the coroner’s death investigation record. Results During the 3-year study period, 72 infant deaths occurred in a sleeping context. Of these, 33 (45.8 %) occurred in the context of bed-sharing: n = 7 in 2008; n = 11 in 2009; and n = 15 in 2010. Further analysis of the 33 deaths occurring in the context of bedsharing showed that in this group, bed-sharing was largely intentional, habitual and most often involved the mother as one of the parties. Conclusions Given the case series nature of the study design, a causal relationship between bedsharing and infant death could not be inferred. However the fact that nearly half of all sleep-related deaths occurred in the context of bed-sharing, provides strong support for the need to undertake definitive analytic studies in Australia so that evidence-based advice can be provided to families regarding the safety of bed-sharing practices.
Relation: Maternal and Child Health Journal / Vol. 20, No. 5, pp.1032-1040
Relation: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1888-6
Year: 2016
Publisher: Springer New York LLC
Subject: FoR 11 (Medical and Health Sciences) | FoR 16 (Studies in Human Society) | infant | bed-sharing | sudden unexpected deaths in infancy | sudden infant death syndrome | fatal sleep accidents

Resource Type: Journal Article
Identifier: ISSN: 1092-7875
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